JP4044309B2 - Pipe connection mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pipe coupling mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a pipe joint is used to connect two pipes. There are various types of pipe joints such as ferrule joints and threaded joints.
[0003]
By the way, when switching the pipe line, it is necessary to remove the pipe joint from the pipe and reattach it to another pipe. However, the conventional pipe joint as described above is manually replaced with a tool. There was a complaint that it had to be done and it took time and work efficiency was poor.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pipe connection mechanism that can automate the connection of pipes and shorten the switching time of pipes.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the pipe coupling mechanism of the present invention is provided with a lock body 8 that has a tapered surface 9 and a flange 10 integrally at one end of the first pipe 1 and is movable. The second pipe 2 is provided with a hook fitting recess 15 that allows the hook 10 of the lock body 8 to be fitted in a state of being connected to the first pipe 1 and locking the connected state. At one end of the pipe 1, a cylinder part 3, a pipe 4 for supplying pressurized fluid to the inside of the cylinder part 3, a piston 5 slidably accommodated inside the cylinder part 3, and the piston 5 are integrated. The cam slope 7 that contacts the tapered surface 9 of the lock body 8 and the spring 6 that pushes and moves the piston 5 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the piston 5 is pushed and moved by the pressurized fluid are provided. 1 and the 2nd pipe | tube 2 connect, and the collar part 10 fits in the collar part fitting recessed part 15. In a locked state, pressurized fluid is fed into the cylinder portion 3 from the pipe 4 to move the piston 5 to one side, and the cam inclined surface 7 of the piston 5 pushes the tapered surface 9 of the lock body 8. Accordingly, the first tube 1 can be detached from the second tube 2 by moving the lock body 8 and escaping the collar 10 from the collar fitting recess 15. Is.
[0006]
Further, in the pipe connecting mechanism of the present invention, the second pipe 2 is provided with a cylinder part 12, a piston 13 slidable inside the cylinder part 12, and a movable pipe part 14 integrated with the piston 13. Provided, the movable tube portion 14 is provided with a flange fitting recess 15, the first tube 1 and the second tube 2 are connected, and the flange portion 10 is fitted and locked in the flange fitting recess 15. In this state, the pressurized fluid is fed into the cylinder portion 12 and the piston 13 is slid to one side to move the first tube 1 together with the movable tube portion 14 to move the first tube 1 and the second tube 1. The gap 19 can be formed at the connecting portion with the pipe 2, and the second pipe 2 can be provided with a supply / discharge port 21 for cleaning liquid, sterile air, steam, etc. that opens to the gap 19.
[0007]
The pipe connection mechanism of the present invention is the same as the connection mechanism provided at the other end of the first pipe 1 by bending the first pipe 1 into a U shape. And a third tube having the same structure as that of the second tube 2 is detachable at the other end, and the first tube 1 is connected to the second tube 2 and the third tube. It can be used as a joint.
[0008]
In the above-described pipe connection mechanism according to the present invention, the first pipe 1 having a U-shape is provided with a pressurized fluid supply unit or is connected to the pressurized fluid supply unit and is movable. The first pipe 1 can be provided with a connector portion 38 that is detachable with respect to 39 and that allows the pipe 4 to be connected to the pressurized fluid supply portion while being connected to the switching transfer device 39.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the second tube 2 is connected to the first tube 1 and locked. The first pipe 1 is provided with a cylinder part 3 at one end, and a pipe 4 is connected to the cylinder part 3. The pipe 4 feeds pressurized fluid such as air into the cylinder portion 3.
[0010]
The cylinder part 3 accommodates a piston 5 in a slidable manner. The piston 5 is pushed by the pressure of the pressurized fluid fed from the pipe 4 into the cylinder portion 3 and slides in one direction. When the feeding of the pressurized fluid into the cylinder portion 3 is stopped, it can be slid in the reverse direction by the force of the spring 6 and returned to the original position. The piston 5 is integrally provided with a cam slope 7.
[0011]
A lock body 8 is also provided at one end of the first tube 1. The lock body 8 is integrally provided with a tapered surface 9 and a flange portion 10. The tapered surface 9 is brought into contact with the cam inclined surface 7 of the piston 5.
[0012]
The lock body 8 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement when the first tube 1 and the second tube 2 are attached and detached. That is, it can move in the radial direction with respect to the first tube 1. The lock body 8 can have the same structure as a split ring whose diameter can be enlarged and reduced. That is, it is possible to adopt a structure that moves toward the center in the radial direction by reducing the diameter and moves outward in the radial direction by increasing the diameter.
[0013]
When the pressurized fluid is fed into the cylinder portion 3 and the piston 5 is slid in one direction, the tapered surface 9 of the lock body 8 that contacts the cam inclined surface 7 of the piston 5 is pushed by the cam inclined surface 7. Then, the lock body 8 moves outward in the radial direction. When the feeding of the pressurized fluid into the cylinder portion 3 is stopped and the piston 5 slides in the reverse direction by the force of the spring 6 and returns to the original position as described above, the taper of the lock body 8 is restored. The surface 9 is released from the pressing force by the cam inclined surface 7 of the piston 5. At this time, the lock body 8 is pushed by the spring 11 attached to the outside thereof, or by the elastic restoring force of the lock body 8 or by the force that combines the force of the spring 11 and the elastic restoring force. Reduce the diameter and return to the original position. That is, the piston 5 moves in the direction opposite to the direction in which the lock body 8 is moved.
[0014]
The second pipe 2 connected to the first pipe 1 is provided with a cylinder portion 12 at one end thereof, and a piston 13 is slidably accommodated inside the cylinder portion 12. Then, the movable tube portion 14 is integrally provided on the piston 13, and the movable tube portion 14 is projected outside the cylinder portion 12. The movable tube portion 14 has a flange fitting recess 15 on the side surface. The movable tube portion 14 is inserted into the first tube 1 when the first tube 1 and the second tube 2 are connected. And as shown in FIG. 1, the collar part 10 of the lock body 8 moves to the inner side in the radial direction, and the collar part 10 is fitted into the collar part fitting recess 15 of the movable tube part 14, whereby the connected state is obtained. Locked.
[0015]
In order to separate the connected first tube 1 and second tube 2, it is necessary to release the locked state. And in order to cancel | release a locked state, as shown in FIG. 2, a pressurized fluid is sent into the inside of the cylinder part 3 in the 1st pipe | tube 1 from the pipe 4, and the piston 5 is slid to one side. Thus, the taper surface 9 of the lock body 8 is pushed by the cam inclined surface 7 of the piston 5 to move the lock body 8 outward in the radial direction, whereby the flange portion 10 of the lock body 8 is moved to the flange portion of the movable tube portion 14. What is necessary is just to make it escape from the fitting recessed part 15. FIG. And if the 1st pipe | tube 1 is extracted from the 2nd pipe | tube 2 after cancelling | releasing a locked state, the 1st pipe | tube 1 and the 2nd pipe | tube 2 can be isolate | separated.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, in a state where the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 are connected and locked, the supply / discharge of one pressurized fluid into the cylinder portion 12 of the second pipe 2 is performed. When the pressurized fluid is fed from the outlet 16 , the piston 13 can be slid to one side as shown in FIG. At this time, the movable tube portion 14 also moves together with the piston 13. And the 1st pipe | tube 1 which fitted and locked the collar part 10 of the lock body 8 to the collar part fitting recessed part 15 of the movable pipe part 14 will also move only the movement stroke of piston 13 with the movable pipe part 14. FIG. . Then, the first tube 1 moves in a direction away from the second tube 2. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 1, the opening edge part 17 of the 1st pipe | tube 1 leaves | separates from the opening edge part 18 of the 2nd pipe | tube 2, and the clearance gap 19 is produced in the meantime. The opening of the second pipe 2 can be opened and closed by the valve body 20.
[0017]
The second pipe 2 is provided with a supply / discharge port 21 for cleaning liquid, sterile air, steam, or the like that opens in the gap 19. Accordingly, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the connecting portion between the first tube 1 and the second tube 2 can be cleaned and sterilized by feeding cleaning liquid, sterile air, steam, or the like into the gap 19. .
[0018]
Then, after the cleaning / sterilization is completed, in order to bring the opening edge 17 of the first tube 1 into close contact with the opening edge 18 of the second tube 2 again as shown in FIG. The piston 13 may be slid in the reverse direction by feeding the pressurized fluid into the cylinder portion 12 from the other pressurized fluid feed / discharge port 22.
[0019]
In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numerals 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 indicate packings, and reference numerals 34 and 35 indicate sliding materials. Reference numeral 36 denotes an inner plug that comes into contact with the movable pipe portion 14 when the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 are connected, and reference numeral 37 denotes a spring that biases the inner plug.
[0020]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the 1st pipe | tube 1 can be bent in a U shape and can be made into a U-shaped pipe. And the connection mechanism same as said connection mechanism provided in the end of the 1st pipe | tube 1 can also be provided in the other end of the 1st pipe | tube 1 made into the U shape. That is, the other end of the first pipe 1 can also be provided with the cylinder 3, the pipe 4, the piston 5 having the cam slope 7, the lock body 8 having the tapered surface 9 and the flange 10, and the like. A third tube (not shown) having the same structure as that of the second tube 2 can be attached to and detached from the other end of the first tube 1. That is, the U-shaped first pipe 1 can be used as a pipe joint by connecting the second pipe 2 and the third pipe to both ends thereof.
[0021]
The U-shaped first pipe 1 is provided with a connector part 38 on the outer surface part of the intermediate part, and the other end of the pipe 4 for supplying the pressurized fluid to the cylinder part 3 is connected to the connector part 38. The connector portion 38 can be detachably attached to the switching transfer device 39. That is, the switching transfer device 39 is provided with an automatic attachment / detachment mechanism (not shown) for the connector portion 38 and a fall prevention mechanism (not shown) for the connected first pipe 1. In addition, the switching transfer device 39 includes a pressurized fluid supply unit (not shown) or is connected to the pressurized fluid supply unit and connected to the connector unit 38 in addition to the pipe 4. By connecting the pressurized fluid supply section, the pressurized fluid can be supplied to the pipe 4. The switching transfer device 39 is movable.
[0022]
When switching the pipeline, the first tube 1 is connected to the switching transfer device 39 via the connector portion 38, and one end or both ends of the first tube 1 are connected to the second tube and / or the third tube. The first transfer pipe 39 is moved to the position of the pipe to be newly connected by moving the switching and transfer device 39, and connected. Although the movement of the switching transfer device 39 is preferably automated, it can also be moved manually.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the pipe connecting mechanism of the present invention, when the connected first pipe 1 and second pipe 2 are separated, the pressurized fluid is fed into the cylinder portion 3 to move the piston 5. The lock body 8 is moved by pushing the taper surface 9 of the lock body 8 with the cam inclined surface 7 provided on the piston 5 and moving the lock body 8 to the second pipe 2. It is only necessary to release the locked state by letting it escape from the flange fitting recess 15, and when connecting the separated first tube 1 and second tube 2, fitting the flange of the second tube 2 By simply inserting the portion provided with the recess 15 into the first pipe 1, the collar portion 10 is automatically fitted into the collar fitting recess 15 to be locked, so that the pipe is switched as in the conventional case. There is no need to manually attach and detach the pipes using tools, and the pipe detachment work can be automated to save time for switching pipes. It is possible to shrinkage. In addition, a gap 19 is formed in the connecting portion between the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2, and cleaning liquid, sterile air, steam, or the like is fed into the gap 19, so that the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 are connected to each other. Since the connecting portion of the two pipes 2 can be cleaned and sterilized, the hygiene management of the pipes is easy. Further, the first tube 1 as according to claim 2 forms a U-shape, be provided respectively at both ends thereof and a second tube connecting mechanism for the third tube, the attaching and detaching operations for the two tubes Since it becomes easy, the switching time of a pipe line can further be shortened. Further, as described in claim 3 , if the connector portion 38 is provided in the U-shaped first pipe 1 and the connector portion 38 is detachable from the switching transfer device 39, the movement for switching is performed. In addition, the supply of pressurized fluid is facilitated, and the pipe switching work is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a half sectional view showing a state where a first tube and a second tube are connected and locked.
FIG. 2 is a half sectional view showing a state in which a locked state of a first tube and a second tube is released.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a first pipe bent into a U shape to form a pipe joint.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st pipe | tube 2 2nd pipe | tube 3 Cylinder part 4 Pipe 5 Piston 6 Spring 7 Cam slope 8 Locking body 9 Tapered surface 10 Gutter part 11 Spring 12 Cylinder part 13 Piston 14 Movable pipe part 15 Gage piece fitting recessed part 16 addition Pressure fluid inlet / outlet 17 Opening edge 18 Opening edge 19 Clearance 20 Valve body 21 Supply / exhaust port 22 for cleaning liquid, sterile air, steam, etc. Pressurized fluid inlet / outlet port 23 Packing 24 Packing 25 Packing 26 Packing 27 Packing 28 Packing 29 Packing 30 Packing 31 Packing 32 Packing 33 Packing 34 Sliding material 35 Sliding material 36 Inner plug 37 Spring 38 Connector 39 Switching transfer device

Claims (3)

At one end of the first tube 1, a movable lock body 8 having a tapered surface 9 and a flange 10 is provided, and the second tube 2 is connected to the first tube 1 in the state described above. A flange fitting recess 15 is provided that allows the flange 10 of the lock body 8 to be fitted to lock the connected state, and the cylinder portion 3 and the inside of the cylinder portion 3 are provided at one end of the first pipe 1. A pipe 4 that supplies pressurized fluid to the cylinder, a piston 5 that is slidably accommodated inside the cylinder portion 3, a cam slope 7 that is integral with the piston 5 and contacts the taper surface 9 of the lock body 8, A spring 6 that pushes and moves the piston 5 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the piston 5 is pushed and moved by the pressurized fluid is provided, and the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 are connected to each other to connect the flange fitting recess. 15 with the flange portion 10 inserted and locked to the inside of the cylinder portion 3 The pressurized fluid is fed in to move the piston 5 to one side, and the lock body 8 is moved by pushing the taper surface 9 of the lock body 8 with the cam inclined surface 7 of the piston 5, so that the flange fitting recess 15 is moved. The first pipe 1 can be detached from the second pipe 2 by escaping the collar part 10 from the cylinder part 12 and the inside of the cylinder part 12 can slide on the second pipe 2. A piston 13 and a movable tube portion 14 integral with the piston 13 are provided, and a flange fitting recess 15 is provided in the movable tube portion 14 so that the first tube 1 and the second tube 2 are connected to each other. In a state in which the flange portion 10 is fitted and locked in the portion fitting recess 15, the pressurized fluid is fed into the cylinder portion 12 and the piston 13 is slid in one direction to move the piston 13 together with the movable tube portion 14. 1 tube 1 is moved and a gap is formed in the connecting portion between the first tube 1 and the second tube 2. 19 None allow the formation, coupling mechanism of the tube, characterized in that a supply and discharge port 21 of the cleaning liquid, sterile air, steam or the like to be opened in the gap 19 to the second tube 2. The first tube 1 is bent in a U shape, and the same connection mechanism as the connection mechanism provided at one end is provided at the other end of the first tube 1, and the second end is also provided at the other end. 2. The pipe according to claim 1, wherein a third pipe having the same structure as that of the pipe 2 is made detachable so that the first pipe 1 can be used as a pipe joint for connecting the second pipe 2 and the third pipe. Linkage mechanism. A pressurizing fluid supply unit that includes a pressurized fluid supply unit or is detachable from a switching transfer device 39 that is movable in connection with the pressurized fluid supply unit and is connected to the switching transfer device 39. The pipe connecting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first pipe is provided with a connector portion capable of being connected to the pipe.

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